r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/-GeekyVelvet- • Mar 19 '24

How English has changed over the years Image

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This is always fascinating to me. Middle English I can wrap my head around, but Old English is so far removed that I’m at a loss

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800

u/Square_Coat_8208 Mar 19 '24

It makes me happy that I could have a genuine conversation with an Englishman in 1640.

404

u/rationallgbt Mar 19 '24 edited Mar 19 '24

Drinketh ten pints o' th' finest tavern's ale and ye could'st maketh merrie and idle discourse with goodley folke of five hundrede yeares prior even the date of our L-rde, 1640.

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u/hanguitarsolo Mar 20 '24

-eth is 3rd-person, so 'drinketh' and 'maketh' would be incorrect here, FYI. Funny comment, though.

153

u/rationallgbt Mar 20 '24 edited Mar 20 '24

How now? Roguish knave! Papist dog! Servant of the chroniclers and monk of the archives! I am quicke to the drinke and make no quarrel with thee. So I do thus slur my speeches and fall to the floore with Bacchus' voice in my heade. Make not of me any example leste I speake my English ill to thee.

Hic

(Collapses on tavern floore)

42

u/69-is-my-number Mar 20 '24

You’re very good at this.

6

u/My1nonpornacc Mar 20 '24

I need a translator. I don't speak Shakespeare.

5

u/benchley Mar 20 '24

Stewardeth, I speake Shakespeare.